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County Planning & Zoning In Indiana
Overview Planning and zoning are increasingly important to agriculture
land use. To assure the best possible planning and zoning outcomes for
agriculture, it is vital to educate local decision-makers and have a
mutual understanding of the land use process.
In Indiana, these local decision-makers are plan commissions. The two
types of commissions most relevant to Hoosier agriculture are area plan
commissions and advisory plan commissions.
Purposes of Planning & Zoning
- Reduce land use conflicts
- Secure property rights
- Maintain property values
- Make efficient use of infrastructure
- Ensure equitable taxation
- Promote health, safety and welfare for the general public
Plan Commission Responsibilities
- Maintain a comprehensive plan
- Prepare a zoning ordinance
- Prepare a subdivision ordinance
- Make recommendations to the legislative body on proposals to amend text of the zoning or subdivision control ordinances
- Make recommendations to the legislative body on proposals to amend the zoning map (rezoning)
- Approve or deny proposals to subdivide land, based upon compliance with the subdivision control ordinance
- Approve development plans
- Assign street addresses for E911
Area Plan Commissions
Area plan commissions (APC) are cooperative efforts between a county
and at least one city or town within the county. The APC is a unit of
county government and is expected to adopt unified plans and
ordinances.
A single comprehensive plan with a zoning ordinance applies to the
area. In a county having an APC, a city or town that does not
participate in the APC may not exercise planning authority outside its
corporate limits. Such cities or towns may form an advisory plan
commission with authority for planning within their corporate limits.
Such cities or towns may form an advisory plan commission with
authority for planning within their corporate limits.
Advisory Plan Commissions
Advisory plan commissions serve a county, city or town. In Indiana,
cities and towns have the option to plan for an area up to two miles
outside the corporate boundaries. In a county with a comprehensive
plan, the city or town’s advisory plan commission must receive written
approval to plan the two-mile fringe from the county commissioners. In
a county without a comprehensive plan, advisory plan commissions may
serve the two-mile fringe without approval from the county.
Comprehensive Plans
State law requires counties that participate in planning and zoning to
first adopt a comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan is a blueprint
or map of where you believe your county will be in 5-10 years based on
current trends or projections.
A zoning ordinance can be adopted once the projected land uses are
mapped out in the comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan is the
guide and the zoning ordinance is the enforceable law to assist in
implementation of the comprehensive plan.
Any plan adopted in Indiana must contain at least the following three elements:
- A statement of objectives for the future development of the jurisdiction.
- A statement of policy for the land use development of the jurisdiction.
- A statement of policy for the development of public ways, public places, public lands, public structures, and public utilities.
In Indiana, comprehensive planning is permitted by the 500 Series of Title 36-7-4 of the Indiana Code.
Commissions by County
Of the 92 Indiana counties, 79 have created planning and
zoning commissions to regulate development; the other 13 counties have
no traditional regulations. There are 46 advisory and 32 area plan
commissions. Marion County (Indianapolis) is covered by a metro plan
commission.
 
(Article reprinted by permission Indiana Farm Bureau's Planning & Zoning pamphlet.)
Download PDF - Planning & Zoning Overview Pamphlet
County Model Ordinances from the Indiana Land Resource Council
Livestock Operator's Guide To County Zoning and Planning
Land Use, Planning & Zoning Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheets
County Agriculture Zoning Checklist
Indiana Local Government Web Site by Purdue
County Information & County Officials
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